Concordia Seminary PhD Dissertation Synopses, 2021

Michael Fieberkorn (Adviser: Rev. Dr. Joel Biermann) Rev. Fieberkorn’s dissertation is entitled, From Vice to Virtue: Contours of Idolatry and New Obedience. This dissertation examines Martin Luther’s retention of the medieval vice and virtue tradition and observes how he reframes this tradition in light of his own emphasis on salvation by grace alone. Luther recognizes the vices as specific instances of idolatry in the human heart, and sees the cultivation of opposing virtues as necessary to move from unbelief to trust in Jesus. Luther situates vice and virtue in the larger context of the Ten Commandments which he employs to define the specific contours of sanctified, obedient Christian living.

Brian Gauthier (Adviser: Rev. Dr. Leopoldo Sánchez) Rev. Gauthier’s dissertation is entitled, Jesus In, With, and Under the Spirit: The Spirit’s Presence and Activity in Christ in the Sacrament of the Altar. In dialogue with the Spirit Christology of Leopoldo Sánchez and others, this dissertation shows how the Holy Spirit is present and active in the Lord’s Supper. The Holy Spirit is working through Jesus’ words (“this is my body”) and is present with Jesus as he gives us his body and blood in the Sacrament, in order to strengthen us in faith and love. The dissertation offers the first pneumatology of the Lord’s Supper from a Lutheran perspective.

Kevin Gingrich (Adviser: Rev. Dr. James Voelz) Mr. Gingrich’s dissertation is entitled, Parechesis in the Undisputed Pauline Epistles: Definition, Identification, and Discovery. This dissertation investigates in depth in the major Pauline epistles the use of the literary device known as parechesis, a figure of speech in which words are used in proximity to one another that sound similar but are from different roots with different meanings—an example is ἔμαθεν, “he learned,” and ἔπαθεν, “he suffered.” This work contributes substantially to the ongoing study of St. Paul’s mastery of rhetorical forms common in the Greco-Roman world.

Editor’s note These scholars received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Concordia Seminary’s Commencement exercises on May 21, 2021. Fuller descriptions of their dissertations are available at https://concordiatheology.org/2021/06/phd-dissertations-2021/.

Aaron Goldstein (Adviser: Rev. Dr. Jeffery Gibbs) Rev. Goldstein’s dissertation is entitled “If You Are Willing to Receive It”: The Presentation of John the Baptist as Elijah in Matthew’s Gospel. This dissertation focuses on how John the Baptist, who is eschatological Elijah foretold in Malachi, is more fully known through a narrative arc that employs additional Old Testament citations. This arc spans moments during John’s life and ministry which exhibit unexpected weakness and vulnerability. John continues to testify even in death. Through paradoxical John, Jesus himself is seen more clearly as the one who brings salvation unexpectedly in the present, especially through his saving death on the cross.

Michael Hanson (Adviser: Rev. Dr. Leopoldo Sánchez) Rev. Hanson’s dissertation is entitled, Christian Identity Meets Identity Politics: A Lutheran Approach to Political Engagement. After examining the contours of identity politics in the United States, and Christian responses to identity politics, this dissertation proposes a Lutheran approach to political engagement in the state that accounts for the legitimate concerns of vulnerable neighbors in society without falling into the divisive side of identity politics. The dissertation offers a constructive Lutheran lens to examine how political engagement flows from core convictions, identity, relationship to neighbors, and goals for the state.

Chan-U “Vincent” Kam (Adviser: Rev. Dr. Erik Herrmann) Rev. Kam’s dissertation is entitled, Fortuita Misericordia: Luther on the Unchosen Figures in the Patriarchal History as Shown in His Lectures on Genesis. This dissertation examines Luther’s Genesis lectures, focusing on the narrative accounts of figures who are not “chosen” by God—for example, Cain, Ishmael and Hagar, Esau, and the Egyptians. In these narratives of the “unchosen,” Luther’s mature theology is demonstrated as he considers God’s surprising generosity to covenantal outsiders, which not only provides them temporal blessings but opens the possibility for their inclusion in the true church through repentance and faith. The dissertation makes a significant contribution to our understanding of Luther’s theology of the church, his doctrine of election, and the irrepressible, universal mercy of God.

Brent Olson (Adviser: Rev. Dr. Andrew Bartelt) Rev. Olson’s dissertation is entitled, Exodus 14-15 as an Anti-Baal Polemic and Its Implications for Interpreting Exodus 15:17 and Dating These Chapters. This dissertation demonstrates that the Song of the Sea (Exodus 15) within its literary context reflects an anti-Baal polemic. After Yahweh controls the sea directly in the face of Baal Zaphon, the Controller of the Seas, the Song celebrates Yahweh’s advance toward the mountain of his inheritance that anticipates his superiority over Baal in the Land of Canaan. This research makes a major contribution to the understanding of the historical context and theological import of the Song.

Charles Schulz (Adviser: Rev. Dr. Joel Elowsky) Rev. Schulz’s dissertation is entitled, “I Said, You Are Gods”: Pastoral Motives Manifest in Patristic Citations of Psalm 82:6. This dissertation is a study of the history of interpretation of Psalm 82:6, “I said, You are gods and all sons of the Most High.” The early church interpreted this passage by referring to Christians as “gods” (with a small “c”), because of their adopted sonship through the waters of Baptism. This study highlights the pastoral care early church fathers practiced in calling Christians to experience the fullness of God’s salvation as his sons and daughters by grace.